Page 1718 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1715

1944

Wednesday 16th June

Took Wakefield for a ride in the morning out to the Port Fort and back,
very pleasant riding & cool. Not much work.

Went to Ali Ehnari and sketched, Mrs Jafar & some Indians came and used
the canoes, among them Ashraf who with another rowed against each other
in the boat.

Thursday 17th June

HH & Sh A came in, usual fuss & bother as two sons of Ibn Saud arriving
en route to India by air, Amin Mohd & Mansoor, also Abdulla Suliman the
Finance Minister, a bankrupt bootmaker of Manama. A bad accident at
Muharraq, an aeroplane crashed while taking off & was burnt out & the
pilot, a Canadian Officer, burnt to death. Had to arrange for funeral &
coffin etc. The RAF non con chaplain came to see me about it.

Went to meet Amiss at the pier, quite nice looking young man, then to
Budega leaving my car at the port & across to Jidda in a small boat.

Friday 18th June

All day at Jidda. In the morning sailed over to Om al Hasam, very slow
going as the wind was all wrong, sat awhile at the house & ate an
excellent melon tea. Walked round the gardens & then had a long bathe in
the tank before walking back to the shore with a donkey load of melons
behind us. Slow sailing & didnt get back till 3.30 for a late meal.
Decided to stay on another night, full moon & very cool & pleasant.
Slept indoors & not a bit hot. Still no result from the thief who was
allowed loose to look for the things he stole.